WATCH: Melbourne City finish strong to see off South Melbourne

Melbourne City have made a winning start to their 2021 FFA Cup campaign with a no-fuss 3-0 win over South Melbourne in the Round of 32 on Friday night.

The Isuzu UTE A-League Men's Champions were dominant from the opening whistle at Lakeside Stadium as they dispatched their NPL Victoria opponents on the back of a second half brace from Scott Galloway.

Connor Metcalfe's tidy first-half finish laid the foundation for City, while Nathaniel Atkinson also proved instrumental as he laid on all three goals to secure his side's advance to the Round of 16.

 

Patrick Kisnorbo's team piled on 22 shots to two throughout the contest, but were frustrated for the much of the opening hour as South Melbourne's defence stubbornly remained in the fight.

Marcus Schroen's second-half free-kick nearly sprung a surprise equaliser for the hosts in front of their 4,291-strong home crowd, before they were ultimately overwhelmed by City's relentless attacking possession.

The match was the first competitive fixture for four months for former Semi Finalists South Melbourne after COVID restrictions suspended the NPL Victoria season.

 

KEY MOMENTS

17' | Chance Melbourne City - The best look on goal of a dominant opening 20 minutes presents for Atkinson but his fierce hit flies just over the crossbar.

23' | Goal Melbourne City - Metcalfe delivers a deserved opener for the visitors on the back of a well -worked series of passes, tucking away Atkinson's cutback.

 

33' | Chance Melbourne City  - Stefan Colakovski wins the ball in his own half to launch a flying counter, but the scrambling South Melbourne defence shuts down the break.

54' | Chance South Melbourne - A wicked 25-yard free kick from Marcus Schroen draws a full-stretched save from City goalkeeper Thomas Glover.

66' | Goal Melbourne City  - Scott Galloway doubles the visitor's lead with a thumping finish after being played in by Atkinson's clever flick-on.

73' | Goal Melbourne City - Atkinson notches his third assist of the evening as his cut-back tees up Galloway for his brace on the back of another considered build-up.

 

MATCH DETAILS

FFA Cup 2021 - Round of 32:  South Melbourne v Melbourne City
Lakeside Stadium, Albert Park
Friday, 12 November 2021
Attendance: 4,291

South Melbourne - 0
Melbourne City - 3 (Connor Metcalfe 23', Scott Galloway 66' 73')

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This article was originally published on the Australia Cup website.
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